Salon-quality shampoos are lovely, but they can often be a splurge with prices as high as $50. If a $10 shampoo is more in your budget, drugstores and major retailers like Target and Walmart have several options on the market. We talked to dermatologists and hair-health experts about the pros and cons of drugstore shampoos, what ingredients to look for and what to avoid. We also rounded up some of our experts’ favorite shampoos available at most drugstores or major retailers that won’t break your bank.
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What to look for in a drugstore shampoo
It’s worth noting that there is a difference between affordable drugstore shampoos and more expensive options, according to the experts we spoke to. “Drugstore shampoos typically have more ‘filler’ ingredients like sulfates, excess water and chemicals,” according to hair health expert and trichologist Taylor Rose, who runs the popular @thehealthyhur TikTok account. Trichologists are specialists who help with scalp problems, typically hair loss. Salon-quality products, on the other hand, “tend to have more vitamins and minerals that are actually beneficial to the hair,” she said. In fact, most of the hair stylists we spoke to do not use, and therefore are not familiar with many drugstore shampoos.
Still, not everyone can or is willing to pay for higher-end shampoo. Moreover, “with shampoos, like any hair product on the market, there really is no “one size fits all,” option, said Rose. The best thing you can do is understand your hair type, said Rose, and also look at the first five ingredients listed on the bottle, which “on average make up 97% of a product’s volume,” said trichologist William Gaunitz.
In general though, here are a few rules to keep in mind:
- Go gentle: “Gentle surfactants are good for cleaning,” said Dr. Hadley King, a board-certified dermatologist in New York. In shampoos, surfactants are the cleansing agent that help get rid of dirt, oil or residue. New York City-based trichologist and hair health expert Shab Reslan, an expert in our guide to the best fine hair shampoos, recommends looking for gentle cleansers like sodium lauryl sarcosinate or cocamidopropyl betaine. Gaunitz recommended coconut oil-derived surfactants as cleansers. Harsh cleansers to avoid include sodium lauryl sulfate, or sodium laureth sulfate, according to multiple dermatologists we spoke to.
- Avoid fillers: Avoid potentially damaging “filler” ingredients like propylene glycol and formaldehyde, which can cause scalp inflammation, said Gaunitz.
- Check your hair type: For an oily scalp, salicylic acid and/or apple cider vinegar can be helpful, according to King, as they’re good at removing that excess sebum (any oily substance produced by the scalp).For dry or damaged hair, “look for a formulation that contains humectants, emollients and occlusives,” said King. For dandruff, look for the ingredients pyrithione zinc or selenium sulfide, noted King.If you have a sensitive scalp or sensitive skin, look for a paraben-free shampoo, said freelance makeup and hair stylist Francesca Maria Alfonso.
The best drugstore shampoos, according to experts
We rounded up shampoos sold at drugstores and major retailers that are recommended by dermatologists, trichologists and hair stylists that will keep your hair shiny and fresh without breaking the bank.
Acure Buildup Balancing Hemp & ACV Shampoo
Rose said she “loves” this Acure shampoo. If your scalp is on the oily side and tends to look greasy, this shampoo is formulated with apple cider vinegar, which King says is good at removing excess sebum. It’s also free of harsh sulfates and parabens, which can damage hair. It has a 4.4-star average rating from over 500 reviews on Amazon.
Shea Moisture Manuka Honey and Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Shampoo
Both King and Rose recommended the Shea moisture line as a great drugstore option for drier hair. This sulfate-free option, formulated for dry, curly hair, contains certified organic raw shea butter, as well as manuka honey and mafura oil to hydrate and moisturize the hair, said King. It’s “great for dry and frizzy hair,” and one of the ingredients, African rock fig “is rich in antioxidants to help protect from damage from free radicals,” she said. It has a 4.6-star average rating from over 8,040 reviews on Amazon.
Dove Hydration Spa Shampoo
If your strands are dry and brittle, moisturizing ingredients like a hyaluronic serum (which is also a skin care staple) may help hydrate your hair, said King. She liked this Dove option, which we also recommended in our guide to the best shampoos for every scalp and hair type. When paired with Dove’s Hydration Spa Conditioner, the set “leaves my hair feeling soft and moisturized without feeling oily or weighed down,” she said. And the shampoo uses the gentler cleanser cocamidopropyl betaine instead of a harsher sulfate. This Dove option has a 4.3-star average rating from over 766 reviews on Amazon.
Garnier Whole Blends Smoothing Shampoo with Coconut Oil and Cocoa Butter Extracts
If your hair is dry and coarse, Alfonso recommended this Garnier option. “It’s smoothing, it has coconut oil and it’s paraben-free,” she said. Though this option is formulated with sodium laureth sulfate, a harsh detergent, Alfonso thinks it’s still a winner if you’re on a budget. Plus, “if you have a sensitive scalp or sensitive skin, using a paraben-free shampoo is a really good course for you,” since parabens can irritate your scalp, she added. This Garnier shampoo has a 4.7-star average rating from 5,088 reviews at Target.
Dove Dermacare Scalp
If you struggle with dandruff or flakes, look for shampoos like this Dove option, which are formulated with pyrithione zinc. Pyrithione zinc, noted King, “has antimicrobial and anti-fungal properties and it also helps with inflammation and itch.” King also said that its “mild” formula is pH-balanced, meaning that it “can decrease yeast on the skin without causing irritation.” (Yeast can cause stubborn dandruff, or flaky patches.) This shampoo has a 4.5-star average rating from 1,242 reviews on Amazon.
Hairitage Down to the Basics Fragrance Free Shampoo
This shampoo comes recommended by Rose for its “really clean ingredients.” The fragrance-free shampoo should work “for most people,” according to Rose, and gently cleanses hair with cocamidopropyl betaine, rather than harsh sulfates. It is formulated with sunflower seed oil for hydration, according to the brand. It has a 4.1-star average rating from 203 reviews at Walmart.
Odele Volumizing Shampoo
This Odele shampoo comes highly recommended by Rose for those who need shampoo for fine hair. It’s sulfate-free and uses the gentler cocamidopropyl betaine to cleanse, she said. It has a 4-star average rating from 681 reviews on Target.
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Source: | This article originally belongs to Nbcnews.com
